Happiness Is an Imaginary Condition, Formerly Often Attributed by the Living to the Dead, Now Usually Attributed by Adults to Children, and by Children to Adults

“Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly often attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.”

Thomas Szasz (b. 1920), U.S. psychiatrist. “Emotions,” The Second Sin (1973).

Szasz is stating that since happiness is an imaginary condition, basically no one has it and it does not exist. Although it is a feeling and can be internal, happiness is what we make it out to be. Certain things such as money and having the most expensive clothes may make someone happy one day, but in two years, they probably will not be as happy when they have to pay off all of their credit card bills or they are in debt. Everyone choses when they want to be happy and why, therefore, happiness is not just an emotion, it is an attitude and a choice.

If someone is having a terrible day and failed their test, most likely they will not be happy. But someone can always cheer them up by taking them out to dinner or even buying them ice cream. Happiness is what we feel when things go right or how we want ourselves to feel in certain situations. For example, if someone lost their hearing, they would probably be upset for a few months because they are not used to living that way. But, after about a year, they are accustomed to living without hearing and realize they do not have to have it, so they are happy again.

Happiness is felt when someone loves somebody and that person loves them back. Love gives people feelings of happiness and makes us feel better not only about